Valuable Learning Resources for Small Business Owners
The American entrepreneur Jim Rohn once stated, “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” That is an ambitious statement laden with the promise of boundless success, and even if you only half believe it, you probably realize that the benefits of self-learning are indeed real if you are a small business leader.
Skills in leadership, management, finance, marketing and creativity — they can all be learned when you tap into the right learning resources. In this golden age of democratized digital content, those resources are seemingly everywhere for you to take advantage of, at little or no cost to your bottom line, no MBA required.
The U.S. Small Business Association (SBA)
A healthy national economy hinges on a robust small business sector, so the U.S. government, via the SBA, has invested in a suite of learning programs to help entrepreneurs grow and succeed. Dive in and discover specifically tailored learning opportunities for startups, military veterans, women in business, leaders in underserved communities and more.
YouTube
Yes, YouTube! The site that pioneered streaming video is a world-class repository for millions of learning opportunities for you. Take a virtual seat in a Harvard MBA class, listen to an inspirational TED Talk on presentation skills, or learn how to design a professional-looking business logo. The learning possibilities are potentially endless here, with tens of thousands of thought leaders updating content daily.
Business Writing
Most of you probably grew up learning from textbooks. The good news is that if you are a reader, there is an abundance of great business and leadership literature out there. The even better news is that these are way more interesting and captivating reads than your “Intro to Biology” textbook ever was. Subscribe to leading business magazines and their blogs (we are fans of Inc.). Check out the top books on small business and entrepreneurship. Follow your favorite thought leaders on Twitter, where the learning comes in the form of snappy, concise bursts of information and inspiration.
LinkedIn Learning
The world’s most popular professional networking platform also has a vast educational platform. Tap into a myriad of videos and content modules to help you develop your skills and take your small business learning to the next level. And since you are probably already on LinkedIn, they have a customized list of the most relevant learning opportunities waiting just for you. Start out with the introductory free month offer, and then see if it is right for you.
Behance
Behance is a platform beloved by the creative community as a space to share work, host online portfolios and — most recently — engage its audience through high-quality learning opportunities. The learnings here can be applied to your marketing and branding. Here you will get access to streams that can teach you about graphic design, various Adobe software, photography and other creative endeavors that you may be eager to learn.
So much to learn, so little time! Part of the appeal of being a small business entrepreneur is the idea of being in charge of your own success. By adopting the discipline of self-learning, you equip yourself with more tools to make that success happen. One last tip: Just as cramming for a test was never ideal, do not give into the false pressure to cram in self-learning. Devote a bit of time every couple of days, and be sure to track, share, and apply your progress with others.